Archive for the 'Holiday' Category

Everytime I visit Japan, I have a certain pressure of doing the wrong things at the wrong time and at the wrong place. For example, when I get on an escalator, I’ll constantly remind myself to stand on the left to avoid hoggin those who are in a hurry and clear my table after a meal at a fast food restaurant or cafe. Something which we Malaysians are not really accustomed to. Come on, honestly, how many of you clear your table after a meal at McDonalds? Most will just wipe that ketchup smudge off and throw the serviette onto the pile of mess created earlier while gouging down a BigMac and fries. Admit it, we simply expect that cleaning up is part of the service we paid for.

This is the interface for PhotoBook Designer. A free software you can download to prepare the layout of your book. It’s really a very well designed software and extremely user friendly indeed. It’s simplicity can be summed up in click, drag and drop. You start off by choosing the book type of your choice, then add photos into the left panel, and select the Page Styles at the middle bottom panel. Once a desired page style has been selected, just drag and drop photos into those boxes, double click it to resize and reposition as desired. Simple. It’s great to know that PhotoBook Malaysia has extended it’s 40% off promo till the end of January, 2010. So, if you’ve taken some photos during your year end holidays or missed the last promo deadline, now it’s the time to get going. A friend of mine already received his order and he is pleased with the print quality and service. Can’t wait to get mine. Last nite, worked on this till 3:30 am and here I am again at 9:18 am continuing with it. Love this.

It’s been a good couple of days without a single blah from that “Stupid Bear With a Plaster On It’s Forehead” guy. I’ve just been sleeping in and busy with videos and photos editing taken during the trip. I got back last Saturday evening and on Sunday and Monday, I basically hibernated for the next 48-hours before returning to work on the 5th. Now, the HD video and iPhone version are ready. I am pleased. Love the soundtrack too. Gotta start working on the memorabilia book I’m printing for my host during the trip in Tokyo. This book printing thingy is tougher than I thought. So many photos to go through and planning involved. Combined, I think we’ve taken over 5,000 photos this trip. Madness, I know.

That’s me. Being silly and putting on a Winnie The Pooh cap. The cap is so big, when I bend my head downwards – it looked as if I am wearing a Pooh costume. So, we had a blast taking these photos and everyone took turn posing on the main street of DisneySea. The hat costs ¥2,700 (approx. RM 100) and the return on investment was fully recovered within the next 15 mins of purchase. Yokatta desu ne! More photos after the break:

Current temperature is 8-degree celcius. Forecast for tomorrow is clear with a high of 10 and low of 4. With DisneySea’s location by the bay area – it should be colder with wind chill factor. With such readings for the week – don’t think we will be seeing any snow this trip afterall. Still – the weather has been great. Sunny with a chance of Okonomiyaki for dinner after DisneySea. Friends gonna take us to this All-You-Can-Eat Okonomiyaki (Japanese Pizza) restaurant for ¥1,900 (approx. RM 76) per person. Yumz.

Yokohama, about 30 mins train ride from Tokyo’s Shinjuku JR Station – has a breathtaking skyline. This photo was taken around 5:10 pm earlier as the sun sets. Standing before me, the tallest building in the whole of Japan – Yokohama’s Landmark Tower. If you wish to enjoy the best view of Yokohama bay, you must visit Osanbashi Pier. With the city skyline on one side and the bridge on the other- it’s the best locale for what Yokohama has to offer.

By the time we got back to Tokyo, it was already 8:00 pm. Rushed to my fav spectacle shop Zoff for a new pair of glasses which was ready in a mere 25 minutes. Received a call from my friend Harry who just finished work and was at Shibuya. Though nearby, I was just too dead tired to go anywhere or wander any longer. All I wanted was to get home, shower and crash. So, didn’t meet up afterall.

Tomorrow morning, we will be heading to DisneySea. As we wanted to get onto the Tower Of Terror, we had to leave very early. It opens at 9:00 am and we will be there an hour earlier. That means, we will have to leave the apartment at 7:00 am. The time now is 1:18 am. I should be sleeping. Goodnite.

Last nite, we went to Odaiba. For the first time, rainbow bridge was indeed in rainbow color. In all my previous trips to Odaiba, it has always been lighted in white. The weather was a little cloudy but cold. The last few days, we’ve covered many places and was dead tired. Didn’t even have the energy to update my blog.

The picture above was taken at Roponggi. The Christmas lighting was beautiful with Tokyo Tower in the background. Having friends who drive does make our trip much more accessible. We managed to visit a few spots in the evening which don’t think I will have the energy to if we were to take public transport. My friends, they are the best!

Earlier in the evening, we headed to Harajuku. The street was packed with a sea of people as far as the eye could see. Guess everyone was doing their last minute shopping for the New Year celebration. We were hoping to catch people in costume but only managed to catch a handful of girls dressed in dolls outfit and Final Fantasy inspired costumes.

Today, we will be heading to Yokohama. The journey will take about 1 hour and 30 mins by train from Shinjuku where I am currently staying. My friend will pick us up on his way back to Tokyo. Yes! Less walking and commuting.